Top Linux Operating Systems for Laptops

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When it comes to a question of excellent alternative Operating Systems to macOS and Windows there is no shortage of options. But not all Operating Systems are created equal and many stand shoulders high above others.

Today, I bring you my list of the best distros you can give a test run this 2019. Who knows, you might just love it too much to stop using it.

1. Linux Mint

Linux Mint is a beautifully designed Ubuntu-based distro that has come to be one of the most popular Linux distros in the market. It prides itself as an elegant, easy-to-use Operating System created for the modern user and uses dpkg as its package manager with Cinnamon as its default Desktop Environment.

2. Peppermint OS

Peppermint OS is a Lubuntu-based cloud-centric Operating System designed to run on a range of computing systems especially those in the low hardware class. It is open-source, uses LXDE as its default Desktop Environment with Xfce’s panel and application menu, and offers automatic updates.

3. OpenSUSE

OpenSUSE is a SUSE Linux GmbH (among other companies) -sponsored Linux popular for its upvote in the systems administration and security departments. It offers several options for its UI i.e. GNOME Shell, KDE Plasma 5, KDE Plasma 4, and Xfce. The major goals of the OpenSUSE project are to be the easiest OS to access and use, to improve collaboration in the open-source community, and to simplify application development and packaging.

4. MX Linux

MX Linux is a Debian-based desktop-oriented Operating System that came to be as a result of a joint project venture between the former MEPIS Linux and antiX communities. It is based on the stable branch of Debian’s official releases, uses Xfce as its default Desktop Environment, and has been designed to offer users a reliable performance with mid-level memory requirements.

5. Ubuntu Budgie

Ubuntu Budgie is an elegant community-driven Linux distro designed to deliver excellent performance on both old and new computers. As the name suggests, it is powered by Ubuntu and features a powerful and customizable workstation that is easy to use and sleek in operation.

6. NixOS

NixOS is a unique Linux distro as it is built on top of the Nix package manager with the aim of approaching software package and configuration management differently and hopefully, better. All the packages within the OS are stored independently of each other in such an innovative way that what started as a research project is now a full-fledged Operating System.

7. deepin

deepin is a beauty-centric Debian-based distribution that exists to provide Linux users with an accessible, user-friendly, and reliable Operating System with a uniform User Experience. It boasts its own home-grown applications such as DMusic, Deepon Software Centre, and DPlayer, and uses a custom Desktop Environment, Deepon Desktop Environment (DDE) which is based on the Qt 5 toolkit.

8. ZorinOS

ZorinOS is a Linux distro designed with a focus on making newcomers to the Linux community feel at home. It is based on Ubuntu to boast a Windows-like GUI and similar applications. Given that its aim is to be the perfect Linux alternative to macOS and Windows, ZorinOS is designed to make computers secure, more powerful, and faster.

9. Solus

Solus is a Linux distribution that is built from the ground up with a bespoke Desktop Environment, Budgie, which is customizable enough to replicate the look and feel of the GNOME 2 Desktop Environment. Although Solus is designed to provide home consumers with a wonderful computing experience, it is available for only 64-bit architectures.

10. Ubuntu

Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution and has since become the most sort after Linux distro seeing as it has support from both developer communities and professional companies. Based on Debian, Ubuntu is an excellent choice for home and enterprise computing and no good list of Linux distros is complete without it. Even Linux Mint which seems to be getting more likes these days draws a great deal of inspiration from it so while it is the last on this list, it is definitely not the least.

What’s your take on these Linux distributions? Is your favorite on the list? Perhaps there are others worthy of mention – drop your thoughts in the comments section below.

Divine Martins Okoi

Software enthusiast with 300+ listicles on FOSS & Linux software. MSc. Cybersecurity student during the day and software tester at night.
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